Birthday Special: Jacob Oram’s top 3 performances in international cricket
One of New Zealand’s best all-rounders in their most successful era in international cricket was Jacob Oram, born on July 28, 1978. His career was somewhat marred by injuries, but he still had a significant impact on international cricket. In cricket, pure all-rounders are somewhat uncommon but always valuable.
Oram had a height of 1.98 metres. Despite his bulky stature, Oram excelled in the outfield as well. He played a goalkeeper in high school football, which is why he developed the required agility. One could consider him as a floater in the batting lineup because his position in the order was not well established. He was a fierce batsman, though.
As he turns 44, let us have a look at some of his finest performances in international cricket:
3. 5/26 vs India, ODIs
Oram registered his career best figures of 5/26 against India, and it was also his maiden five-wicket haul while playing for New Zealand. Oram claimed nearly all of the middle and lower order wickets, with the exception of skipper Sourav Ganguly, as he scalped the wickets of Javagal Srinath, Mohammad Kaif, Anil Kumble, and Yuvraj Singh and bagged the Player of the Match award for his performance in a winning cause.
2. 3/33 vs Sri Lanka, T20Is
New Zealand managed to clinch a three-run victory against Sri Lanka, thanks to Oram’s hat-trick, which was missed by almost everyone. The all-rounder became the first New Zealander to pick a hat-trick in the T20I format. He scalped three wickets in three balls, but in separate overs, and as a result, his teammates, the Sri Lankans, television commentators, and even Oram himself was unaware of his accomplishment.
1. 101* vs Australia, ODIs
On January 28, 2007, Australia posted a target of 344 runs at the WACA in Perth. Oram nearly gave New Zealand the victory by smashing his career-best score of 101 not out. He hit four fours and six sixes in just 72 deliveries to achieve this feat. It was the quickest century by a New Zealander in an ODI at the time. But as was the case back then, Australia won almost always, and New Zealand lost by an a very short margin of eight runs.
